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Aussie, SA dominance not conducive: UCBSA chief
By Fakir Hassen
Jan 08, 2001, 16:00 Hrs (IST)

Johannesburg: The dominance of Australia and South Africa in world cricket does not auger well for the game in the long term, according to South African cricket administrators and officials.

"In no situation, even down to club level, is it desirable for two teams to dominate completely," said Gerald Majola, the new managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA).

He was speaking to the South African daily 'The Star' on South Africa's recent winning streak in Test matches and One-day Internationals. "We should not just be happy that we win a series 5-0. If that keeps on happening, the game could lose impact and spectators could run away from it.

Something must be done to fix that situation," Majola said, adding that he would be exploring ways of helping fellow Test playing nations.

Majola's plans include the possible exchange of players between countries so that the weaker ones could benefit from the experience and skills of the more established ones.

"I'm definitely not happy to see a big gap between the top countries and the rest of them. A 10-year plan is being drawn up by the ICC (International Cricket Council) and we will have to play Bangladesh, for instance. Will people come to watch if the gap is that big?"

South African coach Hylton Ackerman and national director of coaching Anton Ferreira agreed with Majola. Ackerman said a shortage of emerging talent and decent practice facilities could be a factor, especially in the case of the West Indies, which he had visited. "The world situation is not very healthy at the moment. The general public are not happy," Ackerman said.

India Abroad News Service